A Louisville man was arrested this week on heroin charges after he was found passed out behind the wheel of his car.He was rushed to an area hospital for treatment, but all too often, heroin overdoses end in death.Changing face of heroin: Martha's Story | Abusing a drug meant to helpThis week, WLKY has been looking at the changing face of heroin.Mobile videoHeroin arrests and deaths have skyrocketed in Kentucky and a recent attempt to toughen laws failed.This is the story of a group of people trying to make a difference. Walking for Wellness: Stop Heroin Louisville members wore bright-colored shirts and carried signs, some bearing photos of victims at a recent event.Families and friends who have lost loved ones to heroin, along with recovering addicts, made up the crowd walking along Dixie Highway.Participating were Mike and Missy Trauth, whose son, Jonathan, began using heroin in December 2012."And by February 2013 he had already spiraled out of control, in just that short amount of time. He was in and out of 30-day programs," Missy Trauth said.Last October, after one of those programs, Jonathan Trauth, 23, did heroin for the last time. His parents said Jonathan Trauth was with someone, they just don't know who. "(I) feel like if they would have called 911 or did something besides driving him to the hospital himself, he may still be here," Missy Trauth said."Or even told the hospital what he was doing. They just dropped him off," Mike Trauth said.Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway urged lawmakers to make changes."It would have brought Kentucky in with other 13 states that have good Samaritan laws that allows for immunity if you call in an overdose," Conway said.Conway backs legislation for stiffer penalties and holding people who supply heroin accountable for overdoses. "And if you've been following the news with some of our pharmaceutical money that we've had from settlements, we are trying to get that into expanded treatment throughout the state because we have one tenth of the treatment beds in the state we need," Conway said.In January state senators unanimously passed sweeping legislation, but it never made it out of the State House before the session ended.It was a major disappointed to those impacted by heroin, like Tabetha Caple, Jonathan Trauth's girlfriend. She, too, is fighting heroin addiction."And like I say all the time, it takes your life whether you die or not. It's a miserable life when you are on it," Caple, 21, said.The Trauths want to make sure their son's death was not in vain and said they will continue to walk until changes come."And we just want everybody to be aware of what is going on. Educate your children so you don't end up like us and have to bury your child," Missy Trauth said.Walking for Wellness: Stop Heroin Louisville continues to grow.On Saturday afternoon the group is hosting a cookout in Valley Station to raise money and awareness.The event will take place at the Southwest Assembly of God on Valley Station Road from 2-4 p.m. For more information visit the group's Facebook page.Money raised goes to the Healing Place.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

A Louisville man was arrested this week on heroin charges after he was found passed out behind the wheel of his car.

He was rushed to an area hospital for treatment, but all too often, heroin overdoses end in death.

Heroin arrests and deaths have skyrocketed in Kentucky and a recent attempt to toughen laws failed.

This is the story of a group of people trying to make a difference.

Walking for Wellness: Stop Heroin Louisville members wore bright-colored shirts and carried signs, some bearing photos of victims at a recent event.

Families and friends who have lost loved ones to heroin, along with recovering addicts, made up the crowd walking along Dixie Highway.

Participating were Mike and Missy Trauth, whose son, Jonathan, began using heroin in December 2012.

"And by February 2013 he had already spiraled out of control, in just that short amount of time. He was in and out of 30-day programs," Missy Trauth said.

Last October, after one of those programs, Jonathan Trauth, 23, did heroin for the last time.

His parents said Jonathan Trauth was with someone, they just don't know who.

"(I) feel like if they would have called 911 or did something besides driving him to the hospital himself, he may still be here," Missy Trauth said.

"Or even told the hospital what he was doing. They just dropped him off," Mike Trauth said.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway urged lawmakers to make changes.

"It would have brought Kentucky in with other 13 states that have good Samaritan laws that allows for immunity if you call in an overdose," Conway said.

Conway backs legislation for stiffer penalties and holding people who supply heroin accountable for overdoses.

"And if you've been following the news with some of our pharmaceutical money that we've had from settlements, we are trying to get that into expanded treatment throughout the state because we have one tenth of the treatment beds in the state we need," Conway said.

In January state senators unanimously passed sweeping legislation, but it never made it out of the State House before the session ended.

It was a major disappointed to those impacted by heroin, like Tabetha Caple, Jonathan Trauth's girlfriend. She, too, is fighting heroin addiction.

"And like I say all the time, it takes your life whether you die or not. It's a miserable life when you are on it," Caple, 21, said.

The Trauths want to make sure their son's death was not in vain and said they will continue to walk until changes come.

"And we just want everybody to be aware of what is going on. Educate your children so you don't end up like us and have to bury your child," Missy Trauth said.

Walking for Wellness: Stop Heroin Louisville continues to grow.

On Saturday afternoon the group is hosting a cookout in Valley Station to raise money and awareness.

The event will take place at the Southwest Assembly of God on Valley Station Road from 2-4 p.m. For more information visit the group's Facebook page.